S&P 500 in April
Since 1994, April has returned +2.1% on average (median +1.3%), and the S&P 500 has risen in 76% of Aprils — 2nd of the 12 months by average. Total return, dividends reinvested, from SPY's month-end closes.
April 2026: +10.5% — 2nd of 33 Aprils since 1994.
Every April since 1994 (total return)#
How April returns are spread#
33 Aprils since 1994, counted in 2% bins; the blue line is April 2026.
S&P 500 April returns by year#
| Year | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +10.5% | +10.5% |
| 2025 | -0.9% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | -4.0% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | +1.6% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | -8.8% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | +5.3% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | +12.7% | +12.7% |
| 2019 | +4.1% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | +0.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | +0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | +0.7% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | +1.9% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | -0.7% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | +2.9% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | +1.5% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | +9.9% | +9.9% |
| 2008 | +4.8% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | +4.4% | +4.4% |
| 2006 | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | -1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | -1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | +8.5% | +8.5% |
| 2002 | -5.8% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | +8.5% | +8.5% |
| 2000 | -3.5% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | +3.8% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | +6.3% | +6.3% |
| 1996 | +1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | +3.0% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | +1.1% | +1.1% |
Methodology#
Each April is the return from the last close of the month before to the last close of April, from SPY's closes since 1994: total return over its dividend-adjusted closes, price return over its split-adjusted closes. The month in progress is as of the last close and moves with the tape during the session; it is shown beside the record and never averaged into it. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
ChartRow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P Global, Nasdaq, Inc., Robert Shiller, RSBB-I, LLC, or Yale University. "S&P 500®" and "Dow Jones®" are registered trademarks of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC; "Nasdaq-100®" is a registered trademark of Nasdaq, Inc.; "CAPE®" is a registered trademark of RSBB-I, LLC. They are used here only to identify the indexes and series discussed. All index-related figures on this page are independently derived from public sources — SEC filings, the public Shiller S&P 500 monthly series, and our own computations — not from any index provider's data feed.
FAQ#
- Is April a good month for the S&P 500?
- Since 1994, April has returned +2.1% on average (total return, dividends reinvested) with a median of +1.3%, and the S&P 500 rose in 25 of 33 Aprils (76%). By average return it ranks 2nd of the 12 months.
- What was the S&P 500's best and worst April?
- The best April since 1994 was 2020 (+12.7%), the worst 2022 (-8.8%).
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